Bokurdak, Turkmenistan, 4 September 2024 – In the village of Bokurdak, Ahal velayat, experts from the Scientific-Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD) conducted a seminar for schoolchildren dedicated to the Comprehensive Plan for the Restoration of Degraded Pastures of the Central Karakum and Their Sustainable Management under Increasing Drought Conditions. The event was organized under the joint project of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and SIC ICSD, with the participation of experts from the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna.
The seminar brought together more than 40 participants, including teachers, senior students, as well as experts in ecology and sustainable development.
Training in progress for schoolchildren and teachers. Photocredit to SIC ICSD
The workshop opened with a discussion of the current state of pastures in the region, their degradation as a result of climate change, intensified wind erosion, desertification, and anthropogenic factors affecting the overall environmental situation.
Experts underlined the importance of Turkmenistan’s participation in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), explaining to students the causes and consequences of land degradation and the role of international cooperation in addressing these challenges. Project Manager Mr. M. Kh. Durikov presented the country’s key international commitments and mechanisms for their implementation. Participants were also introduced to methods of pasture improvement, including: a) surface improvement – sowing desert plant seeds without soil cultivation; and b) fundamental improvement – sowing seeds and planting seedlings of desert plants using strip tillage.
In the second part of the seminar, schoolchildren shared their own ideas for improving infrastructure, water supply, and creating alternative income opportunities for local communities. Suggestions included the establishment of extracurricular clubs, improvement of water supply, and the creation of sports and cultural facilities.
At the conclusion of the event, participants received educational materials and school supplies. Feedback from students and teachers highlighted the importance of continuing work in this direction and expressed readiness for further cooperation with scientific institutions and international organizations.
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The training was organized under the joint project “Comprehensive Plan for the Restoration of Degraded Desert Pastures of the Central Karakum and Their Sustainable Management under Increasing Drought Conditions” of SIC ICSD/IFAS and FAO, implemented in support of the FAO–GEF project “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Drought-Prone and Salt-Affected Agricultural Production Landscapes in Central Asia and Turkey (CACILM-2)” (GCP/SEC/293/GFF).
The event supports the achievement of:
| Priority Area of REP4SD No 5 dedicated to SDG 15: “Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems” |
| 5.1.2 capacity-building for sustainable management of forests, land, and pastures. |